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ChE 132
Particle
Technology
Prepared by
Engr. Sandra Enn Bahinting

Perrys Chemical Engineers

Handbook
8th Edition

7th Edition

Section 21
Pages 21-8 to 21-11
Pages 21-45 to 21-73

Section 20
Pages 20-5 to 20-7
Pages 20-10 to 20-56

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Describing the size of a single particle

Regular-shaped

particles

As particles are extended three-dimensional

objects, only a perfect spherical particle allows for
a simple definition of the particle size x, as the
diameter of the sphere.

equivalent diameters = used to represent the

diameter of a sphere that behaves as the real
(nonspherical) particle in a specific sizing
experiment

Common diameters used

in microscope analysis
Martin s diameter
Ferets diameter
Equivalent circle diameters
Shear diameter
particle width obtained
using an image shearing
device

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The orientation of the particle on the microscope slide will affect the
projected image and consequently the measured equivalent sphere
diameter.
Sieve measurement: Diameter of a sphere passing through the same
sieve aperture.
Sedimentation measurement: Diameter of a sphere having the same
sedimentation velocity under the same conditions.

Comparison of equivalent sphere diameters.

The volume equivalent sphere diameter or equivalent

volume sphere diameter is a commonly used equivalent
sphere diameter.
Equivalent volume sphere diameter is the diameter of a sphere
having the same volume as the particle. (Coulter counter size

measurements technique)

Surface-volume diameter is the one measured when we use

permeametry to measure size.
-the diameter of a sphere having the same surface to volume
ratio as the particle.

Cuboid: side lengths of 1, 3, 5.

Cylinder: diameter 3 and length 1.

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Description of Populations of Particles

Particle size distributions may be expressed as frequency

distribution curves or cumulative
curves.
cumulative distribution (F) is the integral of the frequency
distribution

dF

dx

Typical

f (x)

cumulative frequency distribution

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For a given population of particles,

the distributions by mass, number
and surface can differ dramatically.
All are smooth continuous curves.
Size measurement methods often
divide the size spectrum into size
ranges, and size distribution becomes
a histogram.

Comparison

between distributions

Problem:
Calculate

the equivalent volume sphere

diameter xv and the surface-volume
equivalent sphere diameter xsv of a
cuboid particle of side length 1, 2, 4 mm.

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Consider a cuboid particle 5.00 x 3.00 x 1.00 mm. Calculate

for this particle the following diameters:

(a) the volume diameter (the diameter of a sphere having the same volume as
the particle);

(b) the surface diameter (the diameter of a sphere having the same surface
area as the
particle);
(c) the surface-volume diameter (the diameter of a sphere having the same
external
surface to volume ratio as the particle);
(d) the sieve diameter (the width of the minimum aperture through which the
particle
will pass);
(e) the projected area diameters (the diameter of a circle having the same area
as the
projected area of the particle resting in a stable position).

Conversion between Distributions

Relating the size distributions by number, fN(x) , and by surface, fS(x)
for a population of particles having the same geometric shape but
different size:

If

N is the total number of particles in the

population, the number of particles in
the size range

the surface area of these particles:

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Therefore, the fraction of the total surface area

contained on these particles

= the factor relating the linear dimension of the

particle to its surface area
N = the total number of particles in the population
S =the total surface area of the population of particles
For a given population of particles, the total number of particles, N,
and the total surface area, S are constant. Also, assuming particle
shape is independent of size, constant, and so

where

Similarly, for the distribution by volume

where

V is the total volume of the particle population and av is the

factor relating the linear dimension of particle to its volume.
And for the distribution by mass
where
assuming particle density rp is independent of size.The constants kS, kV
and km may be found by using the fact that:

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Assumptions for conversions among

different distribution functions
It

is necessary to make assumptions about the

constancy of shape and density with size.
Calculation errors are introduced into the
conversions.
Example:

2% error in FN results in 6% error in FM.

(Recalling the relationship between mass and
diameter). (conversion should be avoided)

If

possible, direct measurements be made with

the required distribution.

Describing the population by a single number

Definitions

of means

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where is the mean and g is the weighting function, which is

different for each mean definition.

Plot of cumulative frequency against weighting function

g(x). Shaded area is

Surface-volume mean, Sauter mean: Arithmetic mean of

surface distribution conserves the surface and volume of
population

Number-length mean: Arithmetic mean of the number

distribution conserves the number and length of the original
population.

Number-surface mean:the quadratic mean of the number

distribution conserves the number and surface of the
original population

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Comparison between measures

of central tendency. Adapted
from Rhodes (1990).

The values of the different

expressions of central tendency
can vary significantly.

Two quite different distributions

could have the same arithmetic
mean or median.

Equivalence of Mean

the arithmetic mean of a surface distribution is equivalent

(numerically equal to) the harmonic mean of a volume (or
mas s) distribution

The harmonic mean of a volume distribution is defined as:

The relationship between surface and volume distributions is:

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so

Recall:

The practica l significance of the equivalence of means is that

it permits useful means to be calculated easily from a
single size analysis

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Example:
Convert

the surface distribution described by

the following equation to a cumulative
volume distribution:

Recall : Conversion between

Distributions

The constants kS, kV and km may be found by using the

fact that:

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METHODS OF PARTICLE SIZE MEASUREMENT

SIEVING

Sieving gives a mass distribution and a size known as

the sieve diameter.
Dry sieving using woven wire sieves is appropriate for
particle size greater than 45 mm. The length of the
particle does not hinder it passage through the sieve
aperture.

Most common modern sieves are in sizes such that the

ratio of adjacent sieve sizes is the fourth root of two
(e.g. 45, 53, 63, 75, 90, 107 mm).

Microscopy

The optical microscope may be used to measure

particle size down to 5 mm.

The electron microscope may be used for size analysis

below 5 mm.

Coupled with an image analysis system, the optical

and electron microscopy can give number
distribution of size and shape.

For irregular-shaped particles, the projected area

offered to the viewer can vary significantly.
Technique (e.g. applying adhesive to the microscope
slide) may be used to ensure random orientation.

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Sedimentation

separation of dilute slurry (solid suspended in fluid) into

a clear fluid and dense slurry (higher solid content) by
gravity setting.

Rep <0.3. Motion of the particle obeys Stokes law.

The suspension is sufficiently dilute (No hindered settling).
Particles are assumed to accelerate rapidly to their terminal free fall velocity,
time for acceleration is negligible.

All particles travel at their terminal velocity

given by Stokes law

diameter of the particle travelling

at our cut-off velocity h /t .

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Permeametry
This is a method of size analysis based on fluid flow
through a packed bed
The CarmanKozeny equation for laminar flow through
a randomly packed bed of uniformly sized spheres of
diameter x is

Electrozone sensing
Particles are held in supension in a dilute electrolyte which is drawn
through atiny orifice with a voltage applied across it
As particle flow through the
orifice,
a voltage pulse is recorded.
The amplitude of the pulse
can be related to the volume
of particle passing the orifice.
Particle range:
0.3-1000 mm.

Schematic of electrozone sensing apparatus

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Laser Diffraction

This method relies on the fact that for light passing

through a suspension , the
diffraction angle is inversely proportional
to the particle size

This method gives a volume distribution and

measures a diameter known as
the laser diameter.

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